Swaptree invaded the UCLA campus last weekend and took part in the very busy, and very big, Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. (Rumor has it more than 150,000 swept through the 2-day festival!)
We met new and current swappers, talked to them about their favorite books, authors and all things Hollywood. Our booth #644 was directly across the way from the LA Times Stage, giving us prime location to the author readings of the day from top names including Louis Gosset Jr., Buzz Aldrin, Sarah Silverman, Jeff Ross, Pam Grier, and more. And, we learned a thing or two from the festival.
As we gear up for Book Expo of America in New York (May 25-27), here’s our recap of what went down in LA:
Melissa Rivers was the first ‘celebrity’ to grace the LA Times Stage. She spoke to festival-goers about her new book, Red Carpet Ready, and gave everyone a lesson in gratitude and forgiveness. Rivers – admittedly bitter after being chucked off the red carpet from E! Entertainment – turned what she called one of the most ‘shallow’ times in her life into a lesson in thankfulness. She left her audience with a few takeaways:
- Always try your dress on the day before a big event so you can fix anything that is wrong, instead of panicking on the day of the event.
- Take a step back and take it all in – no matter where or what the event.
- Be grateful for what you have now, because at any moment it can be taken away.
Well said, Melissa.
Swaptree Booth #644, across from the LA Times Stage
Next up was child celebrity star Todd Bridges (a.k.a. Willis from Diff’rent Strokes). Willis opens up about his personal struggles and drug abuse in his new memoir, Killing Willis. Bridges talked candidly about his life after the television program, and shared how he successfully overcame his deeply traumatic childhood and addiction to drugs, despite the intense media spotlight. He reflected on his friend Dana Plato, who died of a drug overdose 1999. Bridges’ recount of his life was frightening, but also inspiring, as he left the stage with one parting lesson: You only have one life to live – be sure to make the most of it.
People started claiming seats up to an hour before Buzz Aldrin took to the stage on Sunday. The astronaut and philanthropist talked about his journey to the moon, and home again, in his new book Magnificent Desolation: the Long Journey Home from the Moon. Aldrin recounted his memorable moments in space, as well as the hurdles that the Space Program endured over the past few decades. Always an inspiration, Aldrin wowed the crowd and signed books immediately after his talk.
Swaptree Swag!
We took a break from the stage to connect with some of our members and introduced new faces to the world of swapping. We heard things like “You made my day!” and “I’ve been looking for this book!” from passersby, who found a new friend in what we do. We gave away over 500 books in our live book swap and the response was, well, unexpected.
Our friend Catey Hill’s recent book Shoo! Jimmy Choo! has been hailed as one of the top finance books for women, and was a hit at the booth among women and teenage girls. Christopher Moore’s new vampire tales, Bite Me, left a few swappers breathless (especially when they discovered the book was signed). Our swag bags (made from recyclable paper and filled with Swaptree t-shirts, bookmarks and a book), were a hit at the show.
Walt Disney & Mickey Mouse
When Swaptree team members weren’t being trampled by hundreds of kids rushing to the Target Stage in hopes of getting up-close-and-personal with Nickelodeon’s The Fresh Beat Band, they admittedly enjoyed a little time in the California sun. We gawked at stage sets during our private tour of ABC and Disney studios in Burbank, and returned to our childhood thanks to the archives room at Disney Studios, which houses thousands of first-edition books, comics and screenplays from our favorite Disney movies.
All in all, the LA Times Festival of Books was a successful journey for the Swaptree team. We’re getting ready to do it all over again in New York for the Book Expo of America – this time, we’ll be sponsoring the Internet Cafe at the Expo! Come by to see us if you’re in the area.
Lastly, a special thanks to all the current Swap.com members who came by the booth to say ‘hello’ and send a little praise our way. We heart you, too!
Swap.com Mobile is a free iPhone is app that lets you scan items into your HAVE and WANT lists, manage your account, see what you can get for your stuff, and participate in swaps.
